About Winchester

ABOUT WINCHESTER winchester.gov.uk

AUTUMN 2019

TACKLING THE THREAT OF

CLIMATE CHANGE CARBON NEUTRAL TARGETS Council by 2024 District by 2030

Improving and caring for the environment is one of the most important issues we face today.

Although we have reduced the carbon footprint of council services by 31% in the last decade, we need to do more.

So we have declared a climate change emergency, setting ourselves the ambitious targets to make our council carbon neutral by 2024 and achieve the same for our whole district by 2030.

As we develop our plans to tackle climate Ensure that the air is clean to breathe change we are focussing on four themes: We want to make sure everyone has clear air to breathe across the district.

• Carbon emissions • Energy demands Protect, maintain, and enhance our • Environmental resilience environment • Carbon offsetting We’re working to make sure that the district’s environment across our We want to: countryside, towns, villages and city is sustained and enhanced.

Make it easier for local people to adopt a low carbon lifestyle Encourage ‘non-car’ travel We can’t do this alone. we need to get We aim to make it easier and to travel on people of all ages and all walks of life foot, by bike and public transport. involved. We’ll provide tools and support so that people can join in and Produce less waste make it happen.

We’re looking to make sure that the amount of waste we produce is significantly reduced.

IN THIS EDITION...

Encourage and support We’ll lead the way in reducing our carbon footprint and we want to help other organisations in the district to work together and do the same.

We want your views We will be working with local people to get their ideas so please keep an eye on our website for opportunities to get involved and make a difference.

You can also stay up to date with our e-newsletters, sign-up here: winchester.gov.uk/sign-up

KERBSIDE GLASS RECYCLING

CLEAN AIR

RESIDENTS’ SURVEY

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Page 03

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winchester.gov.uk

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INSIDE

A WORD FROM...

Glass recycling is on its way!

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LAURA TAYLOR

LUCILLE THOMPSON

Earlier this year, we carried out a district-wide survey in which you gave us your views on what is important to you and how we are doing as a council.

I am delighted to be the Leader of Winchester City Council. It is a privilege to be responsible for our district.

Residents support Clean Air Day Page 03 Waste collection dates are changing Page 03 2019 Residents’ Survey Page 04 Free WiFi for Winchester City Centre Page 05 Improving your taxi safety Page 05 Small business? Drop into Incuhive Page 05 Building affordable homes across the district Page 06 Sport & leisure park is shaping up Page 07 Introducing the Handlebar Cafe Page 07 Your council, your choice Page 08 Changes to your Park & Ride Page 08 Parking in the spotlight Page 08 Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Page 09 Carry on living life to the full with online support Page 09 Your local councillor Page 09 Focus on Wickham Page 10

Chief Executive

95% of you said you were satisfied with where you lived and 85% said you thought the council was doing a good job.

You were also clear on where you would like things to improve: calling for better public transport and asking us to focus upon providing housing that is affordable. Together with a focus on climate change, addressing both these issues will be integral to our upcoming Council Plan that we will soon be able to share. We’ll also be seeking the views of residents, so please keep an eye on the website for more information.

We are continuing to make it easier to contact us when it is most convenient for you to do so. The majority of our services can be accessed on line. From this Autumn you will be able to buy your park and ride parking ticket on line using the RingGo app - see page 8 for details.

Leader

Following May’s local elections, my new administration has laid out clear priorities.

Top of our agenda is the environment. We have already declared a climate emergency and have set some very clear challenges. We’re improving recycling services and reviewing our waste collection system.

Ensuring the district can continue to be called home by as wide a range of people as possible is extremely important to us, so we will prioritise creating new homes, looking at innovative ways of building more rental properties, as well as providing truly affordable homes in the right places.

We are also keen to adopt a fresh, bold approach to making sure we share what we are doing with our residents and businesses in a way that is open and transparent. We truly welcome your thoughts and input to help shape the way we govern our beautiful district going forward.

Our survey also told us you like this newsletter, but also like information available online, so to keep up-to-date with all our council news and information, sign up to our e-bulletins.

GLASS RECYCLING IS ON ITS WAY!

Take an autumn walk inspired by Keats Page 10 What’s on Page 11 A day in the life of... our Biodiversity Officer Page 12 Win a Fort Nelson cream tea Page 12 Glass collection boxes have been delivered, along with a calendar showing your four-weekly collection dates.

Produced and designed by Corporate Communications, Winchester City Council winchester.gov.uk | resident@winchester.gov.uk (or customerservice@winchester.gov.uk) 01962 840 222 Printed by Newsquest Media Ltd www.newsquest.co.uk | rtweedy@newsquest.co.uk 07795 968 710

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If you live in a flat or a shared property, you’ll be provided with a larger shared collection bin.

If you have an assisted collection for your waste, you will also be given the same help with your glass.

The new service is part of the drive to increase recycling rates across the district.

Around 5% of the waste in Winchester’s black bins is made up of glass, much of which could be recycled,

so the new service will make it easier for you to separate your rubbish.

The glass will be sorted and reprocessed to make new bottles and jars, saving on natural resources and energy.

If you fill your glass bin between collections, you can take your glass to one of the 54 bottle banks across the district, as well as the household waste recycling centres and other spots such as supermarkets.

Check your collection dates at winchester.gov.uk/waste-recycling

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WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT?

RESIDENTS SUPPORT

CLEAN AIR DAY

I watch my acceleration when driving, a lot of fuel is consumed needlessly in hard acceleration. This is especially true in towns and cities that involved a lot of stop start driving. Accelerate gently and you’ll reduce emissions and save money.

Julie - Accountant, Alresford To mark this year’s Clean Air Day, drivers were encouraged to switch off their car engines when idling.

Schools, taxi drivers and residents all took part in the day of action, which was aimed at improving air quality within the city centre.

As part of the campaign, more than 100 drivers outside schools and Winchester train station were approached and three-quarters had already turned

their engines off before they were even asked!

Creating cleaner air is one of our top environmental priorities and our Air Quality Action Plan is helping to reduce emissions and promote greener transport use.

CAR-FREE DAY SUNDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

WASTE COLLECTION DATES ARE CHANGING We are getting greener as a council and our collection services are being updated this autumn.

One of Winchester City Council’s environmental goals is to make recycling simple and easy for our residents. As such, we are updating your recycling service to maximise efficiency and do more for our environment.

What can you expect?

You’ll receive a new waste and recycling calendar in September showing collection days for your household waste, dry mixed recycling, kerbside glass and garden waste.

Keep an eye out for the information landing on your doormat - the days may change from your current day and it will also include information about what happens on Bank Holidays and at Christmas.

From October you can find your collection days and download a calendar online at winchester.gov.uk/waste-recycling

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I put on a jumper rather than turn on the heating, well up until November anyway.

Dylan – Student, Winchester Make sure my lightbulbs are energy savers, they last longer too.

Cal – Beautician, Winnall I’ve been car-sharing since 2017. It took a bit of organising but it’s been surprisingly fun and I’ve saved a tonne of money on petrol.

Jayne – Insurance Analyst, Whiteley I’ve been using shampoo bars for the last three months to reduce my plastic consumption. I’m getting even better results than ordinary shampoo.

Natasha – Communications Assistant, Winchester I’ve stopped buying bottles of water and takeaway coffee cups. Instead I’ve bought reusable ones. It’s simple to do but effective.

Mo - Solicitor, Winchester I go vegetarian one day a week, my kids love the things I make.

Karen – Full-time Mum, Micheldever

We are looking to reduce our use of paper, and you can help us by subscribing to electronic climate updates and bulletins at winchester.gov.uk/sign-up.

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WHAT YOU TOLD US IN THE

2019 RESIDENTS’ SURVEY…

You said that the top reasons why the district is such a great place to

72%

80%

But you also let us know about areas you think can be improved and these include better public transport, more activities for young people, more leisure facilities and increased options for recycling.

of people asked said that the most important service was bin collections, recycling and street cleaning.

of people asked said the council has a positive impact in the community.

78%

78%

87%

of people asked felt satisfied that the council listened to their issue or query.

77%

69%

involves residents when making decisions

Winchester City Council score

South East score

Satisfied with local area as a place to live

Satisfied with the way the council runs things

95% 80%

10 000

79% 64%

65% 47%

TOP THINGS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT Winchester City Council Score

South East Score

Affordable housing & renting options Better public transport around the district More activities for children & young people

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has a positive impact in the community

responds quickly

responds to complaints

Agree that the council provides value for money of people asked say access to parks, countryside and open green space make the area a great place to live.

80%

is doing a good job

39%

95% of you told us you were satisfied with the local area where you live and 79% said you were happy with the way we run things. These scores rank at least 15% higher than other councils in the south east.

live included access to the parks and green space, the connectivity to other parts of the south and the cleanliness of our open spaces.

85%

89%

is easy to contact

38%

We spoke to more than 2,000 people of all ages across the district.

YOU THINK THE COUNCIL IS...

26%

Earlier this year, we carried out a residents’ survey to find out what you thought of your area, your council and the services we offer.

You’ll be able to stay digitally connected in Winchester as free Wi-Fi is being rolled out in the city centre.

Initially running as a pilot project, the free Wi-Fi zones will cover areas of the city centre with high footfall including the High Street, from City Mill to the Military Museums, the main route from Winchester Railway Station to Jewry Street, and the Outer Close of Winchester Cathedral. You will be able to log into _WinCityFree The network forms part of our ambitious vision for a digital future for Winchester and will be available later this year.

Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for more updates.

FREE WIFI

FOR WINCHESTER CITY CENTRE IMPROVING YOUR TAXI SAFETY

SMALL BUSINESS? DROP INTO INCUHIVE! Does your small business need a kick start?

A new free support service is now up and running

Incuhive, based in Staple Gardens, Winchester offers free support for small businesses across the district. If you need office space, HR and payroll support or want to kick-start your business growth, then get in touch. Incuhive can also offer one-to-one mentoring and tools to develop business using regular networking and training.

Businesses interested in taking advantage of the business support service can contact Incuhive:

We’ve been working with local taxi firms to develop a new set of licensing standards.

This means that when you get into a taxi in the district, the vehicle is safe and clean, and the driver well trained.

98%

incuhive.co.uk hello@incuhive.co.uk 0800 689 3564

Taxi drivers have now completed safeguarding training in the district

All taxis are also set to be branded in a way that makes it immediately clear that the taxi is approved by the council. New safeguarding training has being rolled out for drivers and the knowledge test they have to take is being reviewed to make it more relevant for today’s district.

We are also looking to ensure taxis have easier wheelchair access and that taxis are more environmentally friendly as part of the drive for better air quality in the city.

The Incuhive team at the Winchester office

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BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOMES ACROSS THE DISTRICT Finding somewhere affordable to live locally can be hard - but we’re doing all we can to ensure that there’s housing for all across the district.

More council housing is being built, including our largest development for decades at The Valley in Stanmore. Work at The Valley began in April and the new development will include 77 new homes including a mixture of flats, houses and a bungalow.

The £18.9m scheme has been given a boost by a £6.4m

grant from Homes England, which means the scheme can offer lower, more affordable rents for tenants.

Affordable housing is not just being built in the city area: construction of 13 homes continues at Knowle and 35 homes are being created at Hookpit Farm in Kings Worthy.

Artist’s illustration

Artist’s illustration

TENANT SATISFACTION SURVEY Every year we ask council tenants to tell us what they think of our services and how we can improve. This gives us invaluable insight into what our residents are experiencing, allowing us fantastic opportunities for dialogue and making sure we are being transparent about our performance.

to discuss their issues and to see them acted on a bit more quickly. Other areas for improvement included repairs and maintenance and anti-social behaviour in some areas. Additionally, although many of our tenants know about our open forum, TACT (Tenants and Councils Together), nearly a third of people aren’t aware of it and not benefiting from its operation.

What this year’s survey has told us Overall, our tenants are satisfied with how we work with them, how we communicate and how quickly we respond to issues. The survey also told that our tenants have three areas that they consider to be highly important, these are repairs and maintenance, home quality, and how we listen to and act on feedback.

How we’re improving Contact and communication We’re working to improve telephone contact, digital options and the housing hub.

Where we’re doing well Everyone who replied said that they felt they had been treated fairly and with respect. Our tenants are very happy with the way that repairs are carried out and the speed in which we are turning around enquires.

The majority of tenants are satisfied with the quality of their home and their neighbourhood. Many tenants see the service that we provide as good value for money.

Repairs and maintenance We’re ramping up our new tenant visits so more people will have face to face contact within a few weeks of moving in. We’ll also be discussing the survey results with our Repairs Maintenance Service Delivery Group and see where we can make significant progress.

Where we can improve Some of our tenants see service charges as being too high. Other tenants would like more opportunities

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Service charges We’ve started an independent review as well as doing digital surveys and focus groups.

Sheltered We’re increasing face-to-face contact with residents and giving them more opportunities for dialogue and openness. We want to make sure that every sheltered resident feels informed and has a voice.

TACT improvements We’ll also be upping our engagement with posters, email invites and summer meetings. We want to make sure that the important benefits that TACT brings are felt by all of our tenants.

AT A GLANCE… satisfied with the overall service 87%are provided by the council satisfied with the overall quality of 84%are their home satisfied with their neighbourhood 85%are as a place to live satisfied with the way repairs and 84%are maintenance is dealt with satisfied that the council listens to 65%are their views satisfied that their rent provides 85%are value for money satisfied that their service charges 66%are provide value for money

SPORT & LEISURE PARK IS SHAPING UP

 Water wastage minimisation 

Solar panels

The new Winchester Sport & Leisure Park, which is due to open early in 2021, now has the tanks for the 50m and the teaching pool in place.

The new centre will also include a multiuse sports hall, fitness suite, squash courts and a hydrotherapy suite. It’s designed to be sustainable and accessible for all, with

environmental adaptations including solar panels and a system for minimising water wastage.

The development is being funded by Winchester City Council with financial contributions from Hampshire County Council, the Pinder Trust, and the University of Winchester.

Curious? To check out the progress on the building you can check out the webcam at api.t-lap.se/cb42ff/

INTRODUCING THE HANDLEBAR CAFÉ We’re always looking for ways to encourage people to favour walking and cycling over trips in private cars.

With that in mind, the council grant funded Handlebar Café will be opening it’s doors in September for cyclists and walkers.

Designed by a group of local young people, the café and bike workshop sits on the Viaduct Way Cycle Path at the foot of St Catherine’s Hill, south of Winchester.

Handlebar Café will offer refreshments, bike repairs, accessories and information on walks and rides around the area. Bespoke Biking, based in Middle Brook Street, will run the café and offer on-the-spot repairs.

i CAN YOU BALANCE THE COUNCIL BUDGET? Residents can play their part in seeing whether they can balance Winchester City Council’s finances with an interactive budget simulator.

The innovative online budget simulator will allow local people and organisations to balance a virtual council budget, registering their priorities for where money is spent and saved.

The simulator will help the council understand what you think is most important as we work to meet our savings targets for 2019/20 due to the change in the main Government grant.

The simulator can be accessed at winchester.gov.uk/budget-simulator and will be available until Sunday 29 September 2019.

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YOUR COUNCIL, YOUR VOICE New ways of finding out more and telling us what you think We want to hear what you think, and there are new ways for you to let us know your opinions.

In addition to speaking at our committee meetings, you can ask questions at the meetings of our full council, which take place every two months.

Make sure you submit your questions by Midday of the day before the meeting by emailing: democracy@winchester.gov.uk. The list of meeting dates can be found on the web address below.

We have also introduced Open Forums to allow for discussion, exchange of ideas and feedback on big projects.

You’ll be able to continue to top up your card before September 30 and will be able to use any remaining credit on the card.

But once that credit runs out, Park & Ride payments will need to be made in other ways.

Station Approach

Sport & Leisure Park - Friday 13 September Station Approach - Monday 16 September Central Winchester Regeneration - Tuesday 24 September For Open Forum times and all council meeting dates go to winchester. gov.uk and click on the meetings button.

PARKING

IN THE

PARK & RIDE As part of our move to offer you more services online, we are phasing out Park & Ride smart cards from September.

Central Winchester

Open Forums in September:

• • •

CHANGES TO YOUR

The most convenient method is using RingGo.

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SPOTLIGHT

According to our Residents’ Survey, transport and traffic are two of the biggest issues on your minds (see page 4).

The good news is that we are working on a new Parking Strategy for the whole district. Among the future plans are an expansion of Park & Ride, increasing electric vehicle charging points and a move for the current coach park at Worthy Lane.

For further information on RingGo or Park & Ride payments, visit winchester.gov.uk/parking

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RingGo works in a very similar way to smart cards, with pre-payment through an e-wallet and the same 10% discount on all-day parking. Simply show your receipt for payment, which will get sent directly to your phone, to the driver and you will be able to access the bus. Payments can be made through the RingGo website or via the smartphone app. Season tickets will still be available and you will also still be able to make cash payments.

Staff and students from the Royal Hampshire County Hospital and the University of Winchester will be able to continue to use their smart cards and will be notified separately of any changes.

Improvements to car parks have already begun, including energy efficient lighting and re-surfacing at many sites, with much more still to come.

You’ll have your chance to give your views on the new Parking Strategy later this year.

P

Parking is also an aspect of the Winchester Movement Strategy, produced jointly with Hampshire County Council, that aims to Winchester Residents Newsletter Advert (120x130mm).qxp 09/08/2019 14:24 Page 1 reduce city centre traffic, support healthier lifestyles and invest in infrastructure to support sustainable growth.

Action - packed Fort Nelson 350+ big guns | Tunnels & outdoor space | Cafe Free entry | Open 10am – 5pm | Near Fareham

Mon 11 - Sat 16 November

Box Office 01962 840 440 theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk

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Romans 21 & 22 Sept | Sunday Gun-firing 6 Oct Story Time 16 Oct | Fort Talk 23 Oct How to kill a vampire Spooky Science 28 Oct – 1 Nov | Myths of the macabre 1 Nov

Discover more at royalarmouries.org

COULD YOU BE AN ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER? If just a few hours of your time each week would make your community safer, why wouldn’t you sign up?

Across the Winchester district, fire stations are on the lookout for new on-call firefighters to join their ranks.

Generally located in rural communities, on-call firefighters are based at their homes, or workplaces within a six-minute radius of their local fire station so, when alerted, they can drop what they’re doing and attend their station and crew the fire appliance.

On-call firefighters do far more than just fighting fires. They are involved in a wide variety of situations ranging from community fire safety, flooding, medical co-responding, road accidents and chemical spills.

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To find out more about becoming an on-call firefighter in Hampshire visit hantsfire.gov. uk/oncall and register your interest on the national oncall website oncallfire.uk

CARRY ON LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL WITH ONLINE SUPPORT Just because you are growing older or have a disability doesn’t mean that you should stop enjoying life.

As your circumstances change, it becomes important to deal with these changes positively - finding ways to live your life to the fullest.

The Connect To Support Hampshire website, provided by Hampshire County Council, helps you to find information and support to help maintain your independence.

You’ll find comprehensive advice on how to make the challenges of everyday life easier to manage, along with directories of care providers. There are also hundreds of groups and activities to keep you active and connected to your community.

There is also a free app version of the website - available from Google Play or the Apple Store. It works offline, meaning you can access information and search for services 24/7 even without internet connection.

Get advice. Get support. Get Connected. ConnectToSupportHampshire.org.uk

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YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLOR Citizens Advice Winchester District is now based in a new centre next to the city council’s Customer Service Reception on Colebrook Street.

Citizens Advice offers free, impartial, advice on a comprehensive range of topics and in several ways such as faceto-face (including outreach venues and in people’s homes), online via web chat and email, and over the phone.

Top 5 Citizens Advice issues for Winchester district (2017/18) 1.

2.

3.

4.

Benefits and Tax Credits Debt Employment Relationships

Visit Citizens advice online at citizensadvice.org.uk

Your local councillors can help you with a whole range of issues.

They are elected by their community to represent the views of local residents on a variety of matters, including the services and activities the council delivers.

Our councillors can be your first point of contact if you need help and can be contacted by email, telephone and local surgeries, which give you the opportunity to meet face-to-face.

You can find out who your ward councillor is and their contact details on our website, along with which committees they sit on.

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democracy.winchester.gov.uk

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FOCUS ON…WICKHAM The picturesque village of Wickham is just 16 miles from Winchester city centre. This charming market town is full of hidden gems and combines ancient history, intriguing shopping, quality produce, delicious dining and beautiful countryside.

There are many walking, cycling and riding trails that will take you through woods, fields and water meadows. The Meon Valley Trail is a favourite amongst visitors. This family friendly walk spans 10 miles, starting in Wickham and taking you on a historical journey along the disused railway track.

cuisine, a range of great places to eat await you.

SHOPPING Wickham offers a treasure trove of independent retailers, together with some well-known names and a range of traditional stores that have been serving local residents and visitors for generations. Chesapeake Mill is a thriving antiques centre, selling traditional and vintage lifestyle accessories in a historic building built using timbers from the US naval ship, Chesapeake.

ENTERTAINMENT

HISTORY Formerly spelt Wykeham, the village’s name derives from the AngloSaxon ‘wic’, meaning ‘creek’, and ‘ham’, meaning ‘home’. The village’s most famous resident was William of Wykeham, who was born just outside the village in 1320. Twice Lord Chancellor and also a Bishop of Winchester, William is credited with being the founder of Winchester College and New College Oxford, as well as building a significant part of Windsor Castle.

EATING OUT Whether it’s fine dining you’re after, or just good old-fashioned fish and chips - you’ll find it in Wickham. Mixing the best local produce with international

PARKING

Looking for somewhere to park?

Wickham offers affordable parking at two central locations. You can park for free at the disused railway station, which has 58 spaces. There are also 150 spaces in Wickham Square.

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Download your free pocket guide from visitwinchester.co.uk or visit Winchester Tourist Information Centre for more information

Festivals, fairs and fêtes all take place around Wickham throughout the year, including A Taste of Wickham - a local event showcasing local produce and The Wickham Festival an intimate folk music festival attracting music lovers from across the country. St Nicholas’ Church dates back to the 12th century and features fine examples of Victorian stained glass windows. Nearby, the beautiful village of Knowle is also well worth a visit.

GETTING THERE Find Wickham at the junction of the A32, A334 and the B2177. Alternatively, take in the sights of the Winchester district by taking the number 69 bus which leaves regularly from Winchester Bus Station.

TAKE AN AUTUMN WALK INSPIRED BY KEATS The English Romantic poet John Keats stayed in Winchester during the late summer and early autumn of 1819. He enjoyed a daily walk through the Cathedral Close and water meadows to St Cross.

It’s the perfect time of year to follow in the poet’s footsteps, passing through the landscape which inspired his famous ode, ‘To Autumn’.

The Keats Walk takes you on an inspirational round-trip of approximately two miles, beginning at the tourist information centre in the Guildhall. Pick up your free copy there, or visit visitwinchester.co.uk and download the free trail.

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WHAT’S ON...

13 October JOCELYN HARRIS: SATIRE, CELEBRITY AND POLITICS IN JANE AUSTEN visitwinchester.co.uk

10 September - 20 December KEATS IN WINCHESTER An exhibition about Keats and Winchester in the early 19th century.

Winchester College Treasury, College Street, Winchester SO23 9NA

26 September - 6 October WINCHESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL Showcasing the talent of a variety of comedians in venues around the city.

5 October - 6 October HARVEST WEEKEND A fun-packed family event celebrating the country’s food and farming.

Winchester Cathedral, The Close, Winchester SO23 9LS

12 October VOICE FOR HOSPICES CHOIR Singers raising their voices to help those with end of life and life limiting illnesses

Winchester Cathedral, The Close, Winchester SO23 9LS

12 October WINCHESTER POETRY DAY A day of poetry readings, discussions, Prize-givings and workshops.

Winchester Discovery Centre, Jewry Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8SB

Chawton House, Chawton, Alton, UK GU34 1SJ

16 October THEMED STORY TIME AT FORT NELSON All ages are welcome at Fort Nelson for free story time sessions in the galleries featuring popular children’s tales.

Fort Nelson, Portsdown Hill Road, Portchester, Fareham PO17 6AN

25 October - 28 October KING ALFRED WEEKEND A range of events including lectures and exhibitions.

Hyde900, 11 Monks Road, Hyde, Winchester SO23 7EQ

1 November - 3 November BIG HISTORY WEEKEND Join BBC History Magazine for History Weekend returning to Winchester for the 5th year.

Guildhall Winchester, The Broadway, Winchester, UK SO23 9GH

9 November Winchester Bonfire & Fireworks Celebrate Bonfire Night with a spectacular firework display and help raise money for local charities. Tickets available from the Winchester Tourist Information Centre.

River Park Leisure Centre, Gordon Road, Winchester SO23 7DD

14 November CHRISTMAS IN WINCHESTER Celebrate the start of the festive period with an evening of live entertainment and fun, culminating in the switch on of Winchester’s Christmas lights.

3 October - 4 October Ed Byrne - If i’m Honest...

Ed Byrne presents his brand-new masterclass in observational comedy.

River Park Leisure Centre, Gordon Road, Winchester SO23 7DD

12 October Hampshire Coffee Festival Celebrating all that’s best about the region’s blossoming cafe culture.

21 November - 2 January 2020 CHRISTMAS ICE RINK Spectacularly situated in the centre of the Cathedral’s historic Inner Circle.

29 November - 30 November WINCHESTER WINE FESTIVAL Enjoy a feast of fabulous wines.

Guildhall Winchester, The Broadway, Winchester SO23 9GH

29 November - 30 November SANTA SPECIALS - THE WATERCRESS LINE Travel in a festive train carriage for a magical trip where Santa and his jolly helpers will visit your seat with a gift.

Mid Hants Railway ‘Watercress Line’, New Alresford, SO24 9JG

7 December GINCHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKET A celebration of diverse spirits, local and craft, from gin to whiskey, and vodka to rum.

Castle Avenue, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8UJ

For detailed information about each event, including links to booking sites and timings, please go to: visitwinchester.co.uk

9 November Jo Whiley’s 90s Anthems Dance your way back to the 90s with Jo Whiley.

13 December Christmas with Michael Owen There are 4 different packages available to ensure football fans have every opportunity to enjoy this event.

7 February 2020 Psychic Sally - 10 years and counting Sally’s show will have you on the edge of your seat, as she brings mediumship into the 21st century.

Tickets for shows can be purchased from guildhallwinchester.co.uk

HAVE YOURSELF A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS IN WINCHESTER Christmas Lights Switch On 14 Nov

Christmas at Marwell From 16 Nov

Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market 21 Nov – 22 Dec

Discover Winchester Cathedral’s spectacular new exhibitions

Winchester Cathedral Ice Rink 21 Nov – 5 Jan 2020

Panto at Theatre Royal Winchester: Dick Whittington 30 Nov - 5 Jan 2020

Step into the story...

Christmas at Winchester Science Centre Weekends: 30 Nov – 15 Dec, daily: 19 Dec – 6 Jan 2020

See Santa Claus at The Great Hall 21 – 23 Dec

Winchester Wine Festival Sat 29 – Sun 30 Nov

Ginchester Christmas Market 7 Dec

Visit winchester-cathedral.org.uk to plan your visit.

For more festive events see

christmasinwinchester.co.uk King_Alf

KingAlfWinchester

KingAlfWinchester

01962 840 500 visitwinchester.co.uk

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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF... OUR BIODIVERSITY OFFICER Zoe Keeble works in the environmental service at Winchester City Council. Here she tells us about her day-today job Tell us about your job Biodiversity covers the variety of everything living in the district from bats to hookworm, bees, spiders, trees and flowers – it covers a huge range of species.

My role is really varied. I offer support for development projects and help to deliver work to improve biodiversity, such as creation of wildflower areas and provision of swift boxes, as well as carrying out ecological surveys.

How did you become a biodiversity officer?

I was interested in wildlife from a very young age and decided to study Zoology at university, completing a Masters Degree in Ecology and Conservation.

What may surprise people?

A lot of my time is spent working with the council’s property services team to check for roosting bats and nesting birds before roofing work starts.

Installing swift boxes

Bats can fit into a gap the same size as the width of your thumb and when in small numbers they leave very few signs of their presence. So often residents living in a property with bats don’t know they are there.

A fun fact about bats is that they are more closely related to humans than they are to mice!

What is the most rewarding part of the role?

Being able to see first-hand how changes in management practice or providing features such as bird boxes or bat boxes really benefit our wildlife.

These actions are so important for maintaining and enhancing biodiversity across the 250 square miles of the Winchester district.

Practical experience with ecological consultancies, the Wildlife Trust and RSPB provided me with the knowledge and skills to become a biodiversity officer – for example you learn survey techniques and wildlife conservation.

To find out more, visit winchester.gov.uk/biodiversity

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WIN A FORT NELSON CREAM TEA Part of the Royal Armouries group of museums, Fort Nelson is a fully restored Victorian fort, built in 1860, on top of Portsdown Hill. Explore secret underground tunnels, ammunition bunkers and exciting interactive galleries that tell the history of the fort, and the people and stories that shaped its history.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AT WINCHESTER CITY COUNCIL Join us, and be part of a team committed to making life good for residents and businesses in this beautiful and historic place.

We are delighted to offer a prize of cream tea for four in Fort Nelson’s Café 1871 (valid until March 2020).

Simply answer the three questions below and send your entry along with your contact details to: Newsletter Competition, Corporate communications, Winchester City Council, Colebrook street, Winchester, SO23 9LJ

Start the next chapter of your career by visiting: winchester.gov.uk/vacancies

winchester.gov.uk

CLOSING DATE: 16 October 2019 Full terms and conditions are available at: winchester.gov.uk/competition

LET’S MOVE TO ONLINE NEWS UPDATES By registering for electronic updates you’ll be helping to reduce our carbon footprint, so please sign up at: winchester.gov.uk/sign-up.

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1

Fort Nelson is part of which group of museums?

a. Winchester’s Military Quarter b. Royal Armouries c. Rifles Museums

2

What is the name of the Fort Nelson café?

a. Café 1871 b. Café 1984 c. eighteen71

3

What year was Fort Nelson built?

a. 1860 b. 1995 c. 1871